Epidural fentanyl for shaking in obstetrics

This study assesses the efficacy of epidural fentanyl in the relief of shaking associated with epidural analgesia. Fifty mothers whose shaking was sufficient to cause distress were divided randomly to receive either fentanyl 25 micrograms in 5 ml sterile normal saline or 5 ml of saline through their in-situ epidural. Shaking stopped within 15 minutes in 18 out of 25 (72%) of those given fentanyl but in only 4 out of 25 (16%) of the saline group and this is statistically significant (p less than 0.01). Fentanyl can be recommended in this context.